Microsoft protects Office mobile apps with BlackBerry security

The software giant has partnered with the former handset manufacturer to make its suite safer.

Microsoft has entered into a new partnership to add BlackBerry security to its Office apps. The goal is to improve the security level of its popular suite of mobile apps. It will be adding the applications to the BlackBerry Dynamics container software.

The new partnership between Microsoft and BlackBerry was first announced last week.

Microsoft will be adding BlackBerry security to ensure that customers know they can safely use their apps. Among the Microsoft Office apps that will be protected through this new partnership include Word, Excel and PowerPoint. This added level of mobile security will be applicable to both Apple and Android devices.

The new security integration is by way of the BlackBerry Enterprise Bridge product. This makes it possible for shared customers – including healthcare providers, banks, government organization and law firms – to use Microsoft mobile applications inside the protective layer of the BlackBerry Dynamics container software.

BlackBerry security has always had a strong reputation, matching well with Microsoft Office.

“We saw a need for a hyper-secure way for our joint customers to use native Office 365 mobile apps,” said BlackBerry president of global sales, Carl Wiese. “BlackBerry Enterprise Bridge addresses this need and is a great example of how BlackBerry and Microsoft continue to securely enable workforces to be highly productive in today’s connected world.”

The two companies also announced that they’ve integrated the BlackBerry Secure platform with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

Secure first launched in 2016. It brings together a number of BlackBerry acquisitions. They include: WatchDox, Good Technology, AtHoc and Encription. The result is a single software suite created to make it possible to keep all devices and enterprise endpoints secure and connected.

These include everything from computers and mobile devices to vehicles and tracking sensors. The BlackBerry Dynamics product is the result of Good Technology’s Good Dynamics. The BlackBerry Workspaces secure file sharing tool is the outcome of the WatchDox acquisition.

Now Microsoft will bring all the BlackBerry security acquisitions into its own reach through this partnership for its Office mobile app suite and cloud storage platform.